Automatic fluid-brake.



No'. 861,588. PATENTED JULY so, 1907.

T; GUNDERSON.

AUTOMATIC FLUID BRAKE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 21, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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AUTOMATIC FLUID BRAKE. APPLIOATIOK I'ILED IAN: 21, 1907.

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PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

T. GUNDERSON. 7 AUTOMATIC FLUID BRAKE.

AEPLIUATION FILED JAN. Ql 1907.

' 3 SHEETS- 811331 3- wit" eases cm, wpsnma'mu, n. c

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

THOMAS GUNDERSON, OF MCINTOSH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HERMANHELGESON, OF MCINTOSH, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMATIC FLUID-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July so, 1907.

Application filed January 21, 1907. Serial No. 353,268.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS GUNDERSON,2L citizen of the United States,residing at McIntosh, in the county of Polk and State of Minnesota, haveinvented a new and useful Automatic Fluid-Brake; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automatic fluid brakes.

The object of this invention is to provide a mechanism which willautomatically supply fluid to the ordinary fluid brake cylinder Wheneverthere is a reduction of pressure in the main pipe, due to the breakingof connection between any two cars.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of the partsand the combinations of parts hereinalter described, more particularlypointed out in the appended claims, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a bottom plan view of the car with allparts removed except those to which the invention relates. Fig. 2 is anenlarged sectional view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofanother embodiment of the invention showing the device connected to theusual air tank.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, il indicates the usual mainpipe extending longitudinally of the car and provided with the usualflexible couplings 2 at its ends; 2 indicates the usual cylinders and 3the usual air tanks.

Connected to the brake cylinder 2 by a piping 4 is a second air tank 5said piping containing a check valve 31 unseating under pressure iromsaid air tank 5,and also a turning valve 6. Also arranged below the caris a valve-operating cylinder 7 which contains a piston 8 having apiston rod 9 connected by a pin and slot connection 10 with a lever 11.to permit a straight movement of the piston. This lever 11 is pivotednear its opposite end and is provided at this latter end with a toothedsector 12 which meshes with a pinion 13 on the stem of the valve (3.When the piston is in the position shown in full lines, the valve 6 isopen, and when in the position shown in dotted lines, the valve isclosed.

To move the piston to close the valve 6, the cylinder 7 is connected tothe main pipe 1 by a short connection 14 which delivers to the cylinder,the fluid compressed in the usual manner and supplied to main pipe 1.the fluid enters the cylinder 7, the piston moves to the position shownin dotted lines, thereby permitting the compressed iluid to escapethrough passageway 15 at the opposite end of the cylinder to an airreserve tank 16. In passing through passageway 15, the fluid unseatsvalve 17 which has a stem 18, projecting from opposite faces thereof,and guided in spiders or cross arms 1.9, a spring 20 serving to hold thevalve to its seat and prevent back pressure through the passageway 15.

From the air reserve tank 16, the fluid passes through a passageway 21to the second main air tank 5, said passageway containing a check valve22 which unseats under pressure from the air reserve tank 16, and whichis provided with a stem 23 guided in a spider 24 and pressed to its seatby a spring 25.

As long as pressure is maintained within the main pipe 1 the piston willbe maintained in the position shown in dotted lines. To hold the pistonin this position and prevent its being moved upon any slight reductionof pressure in the main pipe due to leakage, the cylinder carries aspring latch 26 provided with a notch 27 to engage a projection 28 onthe piston rod. 7 0 When, however, the pressure in the main pipe drops,due to the breaking of connection between any two cars, the fluid inreserve tank 16, will pass through passageway 29 into the cylinder 7 andforce the piston to the position shown in full lines, the fluid thenpassing 7 5 through a passageway 30 to connection 14 and thence escapingby way of main pipe 1. To prevent fluid passing through passageway 30when the main tank 5 is charged, a check valve 32 is provided and has avalve stem, 33 projecting from opposite faces thereof. The stem isguided in cross arms or spiders 34. and the valve is held to its seat bya coil spring 35. As the piston moves to this position, the valve 6 isopened thereby supplying fluid from the second main tank 5 to the brakecylinder which causes the operation of the brakes in any suitablemanner. Fluid under pressure is held in the brake cylinder by checkvalve 31 until the brakes are released, in the usual manner.

In Fig. 3 instead of providing a second air tank 5, the reserve tank 16is connected to the usual air tank 3 and a connection t leads from thisair tank to the brake cylinder 2.

To permit the cars to be switched, each main pipe is provided at eachend of a car with a valve 35 which may be operated in any suitablemanner such as by 1nanu ally operable means. These valves may be closedbefore a car is detached and when the car has reached its properposition may be opened, thus causing the brakes to act.

The cylinder 7 may be connected to piping 4 by a brace 36.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters-Patent is:

1. The combination with a brake cylinder, an air tank and a main pipe.of a connection between the air tank and the brake cylinder, meanscontrolling said connection comprising a cylinder connected to the mainpipe, a piston therein and a reserve tank connected to the cylinder,connection between the reserve tank and the air tank, and a chock alvoin tho connool'ion hotweon the air tank and tho rosol'vo tank said chockvalvo unsoating to supply tho air tank through tho rosoryo tank.

2. 'lho' combination with a hrako lindor. an air tank. and a main pipo.oi. a oonnoction hotwoon tho air tank and tho bri (o c 'lintlor a. yalvoin said (-'onno(:t,ion. and moans oontirolling id valvo, comprising acylinder oonnoctod with tho main pipe :1 piston in tho (:ylinrlor,oonnectod to tho valyo and a rosorvo tank roooivingprossuro from thooylindor whon tho piston is in position to hold tho alvo olosod. havinga oonnoction with tho oylindor to move the piston to upon tho valvo. andha \o. communication with tho air tank. v

Ii. 'iho combination with a brako oylindor. an air tank, and a mainpipo, ot a onnootion botwoon tho air tank and tho brako oytindor a valyooontrolli ng said connootion and moans oontrolling: said valyoComprising: a piston. a connootion botwoon tho oylindor and tho mainpipo. a rosoryo tank. oonnootion botwoon tho oylindor and tho rosorvotank wlton tho pi ton is in position to hold tho val yo closod. andoonnootion bottwoon tho cylindor and tho rosorvo tank to (ftlllSt thopiston to ho movod to opon the valve when tho prossuro is rodutrod intho main pipo.

4. Tho combination with a brake (:ylindor. an air tank. and a main pipo.of a connoction hotwoon tho air tank and tho hrako cylin'dor. a UV? insaid ('onnootion. a rosorvo tank supplying prossttro in such niannor asto oatiso tho opening ot? tho valvo whon prossnro is roduood in tho mainpipo. a connootion hotwoon tho air tank and tho rosorro tank by whichtho air tank is suppliod through tho i'osolyttank and a ohock valyo insaid ('onnootion. unsoatina to admit air t'rmn tho rosorvo tank to thoair tank.

7. i\ moans for controlling air to brako oylint'iors ooni prising a(:ylindor having a main pipo oonnootion and a yalyod oxhanst; pas gowayt'ommunioating with tho main pipo oonnoction, a piston working in thooylindor and a rosorvo tank having two oonnnunioations with thooylindor. ono of said oommnnioations with tho oyiindor lltilljl.providod with a ohook valvo.

In tostimony whorooi' l havo signod my namo to this spocilication in thoprosonco of two subscribing witnossos.

1 21am, Iloinmnn.

